#the watchtower

[minnesota-fats]

A fic-lit about Danny working at the watchtower, not as a superhero but as an engineer.

This is based on an prompt I read months ago but cant find where Danny put that he was a halfa on his resume but the hiring manager didn’t pay attention to it and hired him anyway. Rather than that its just Danny working at the watchtower and vibing on break when a tiny Robin finds him in the viewing deck.

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Danny had been working for the justice league watchtower for a couple of months. He has seen hero’s come and go, paying him no mind and he was absolutely living for it! Unlike at 14, he was just a simple, normal worker—despite being half dead and the next in line for the crown in the infinite realms—he is just a simple mechanical engineer, Danny Nightingale. No one to fight, no one to save, just a big space station that needed someone to help keep it up in space.

And that's another bonus to this job; Space!

He gets to spend his shift up in the stars, looking out at the cold expanse of their solar system. Admiring the earth from a whole new angle, and he is getting paid to do it! Sure he could go into space any time, but being able to spend a good portion of his time here really made his core sing in joy. When he was on break he would wander around the areas he had clearance to go into, looking out every window at every star. Cataloging the ships movement through space with sharp eyes. His favorite place to go is the viewing deck, it was exactly what it sounded like, a place to just go and view that space outside.

It was there that Danny decided to take his break today, the Watchtower was at just the right angle to be able to see the earth from the viewing deck. Danny smiled watching the planet he lived on from afar, this really was the best job he could have ended up with!

A few months back he was having a hard time finding work after college, sure he had all the proper qualifications for the positions he applied for. But due to his medical condition—being half dead with a slow almost nonexistent heartbeat—they all refused him, afraid that his heart wouldn't keep up if he left the atmosphere to board any of the space stations orbiting the earth. To be fair it wouldn't have, he tested it by flying up to the moon and back the old fashioned way. But he couldn't just tell them that; being an ecto entity was still a crime that he was just barely able to get away from at age eighteen.

He came out to his parents once he graduated high school, they reacted poorly. Danny’s mom saw red and tried to kill him the rest of the way, claiming that Danny was just a ghost “piloting” his corpse around. Danny’s dad just stayed silent and watched, but before maddie could really do anything he acted. Jack knocked Maddie out with a strong blow to the back of her head. Danny remembered the hope that he had when Jack did that, but after he looked up at the man that hope died in his chest. The man looked torn, both angry and sad and in a voice lacking any of the familiar warmth said, “leave before she wakes up.” And he turned to pick up Maddie and made his way up the stairs. It was because of his dad that he was able to get away because after that Danny Fenton was declared dead. With the help of Sam and Tucker he was able to make a new identity for himself and go to school. From that day on Danny decided to move on and never look back.

After putting his name out there time and time again he was rejected. It wasn't until he got a letter in the mail saying he had been scheduled for an interview at Wayne tech of all places. He didn’t remember applying there but decided to go anyway, needing some sort of job to get him through. But when he got there he was greeted by Lucius Fox and Batman of all people! Danny nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the dark knight, Danny couldn't help but think the worst. But before he could bolt, Lucius explained that Batman was looking for workers with the help of Wayne Industries for the base of operations for the Justice League—The Watchtower. Turns out all his applications to several different space programs caught the man’s attention. He even explained that Danny wouldn't even need to have a physical or get on a spaceship because The Watchtower utilized teleportation technology. Danny was so excited that he agreed on the spot without even knowing the benefits he would get from working with them. Which—surprising to no one—were a lot of benefits.

Danny was drawn from his thoughts when he heard the soft, almost nearly nonexistent footsteps coming from behind him. Danny turned and saw a child—no older than twelve—wearing a hero’s costume that looked like he was mimicking a traffic light. The kid froze in his tracks when Danny turned to face him, the two staring at each other for a few moments before the kid smiled and waved at him.

“Hi,” the kid beamed at Danny, “I’m D—Robin!”

Danny lifted a brow, “you a part of the justice league?” He asked, not remembering a kid being a part of their team.

The kid shook his head, “No, my guardian is though!” He explained.

“Ah, neat,” Danny said nonshalontly as he turned back to look at the window, “you come to see the view?” He asked.

The kid walked farther into the room and gasped when he got a better look at said view. “Woah—”, he exclaimed, now standing next to Danny.

Danny looked beside him to see the stars reflecting off of the kids' eyes, “cool isn't it? I come here on my lunch breaks," Danny says.

The kid looked at him and then squinted suspiciously, “if you're at lunch where is your food?” He asked.

Danny smiled, “I forgot my lunch at home today,” Danny lied, seeing the stars gave him enough energy to continue going. He usually eats when he gets home.

“Really?” The kid asked with a raised brow.

Danny smiled and looked around to see if anyone else was there, when he saw no one he asked, “do you wanna hear a secret?” He asked. Robin looked around himself as well before he leaned down a bit so Danny could whisper into his ear, “I actually just absorb the energy from the stars to sustain myself.” He explained.

“Really?” Robin asked, looking at him again, trying to gauge if Danny was lying or not.

Danny smiled, “yep,” he said, popping the p, “that's why I got a job here, that way I won’t starve to death.” Danny grins.

“But cant you just look at the stars from earth?” Robin asked, tilting his head.

“I mean, sure,” Danny says with a shrug, looking back out the window, “but this is so much better, isn't it?”

Robin looked out the window, “yeah!” The boy exclaimed, “it's so much clearer up here than in Gotham.” He commented.

Danny smiled and looked back at the boy, “I live in Gotham, too.”

“Really?” Robin asked, “No wonder you come up here,” the boy commented, causing Danny to snort in laughter and it wasn't long before Robin joined him.

“You got that right,” Danny says with a smirk before something dawns on him, “Wait, hero from gotham? I didn't know Batman had a kid?” Robin looked away, Danny could feel his nerves and sadness pass through him.

Danny was about to tell him that he didn't have to talk about it but before he could get his words out Robin spoke up, “My parents died about a year ago… he took me in only recently, he decided to train me when I found out he was Batman,” the kid says looking down at his feet, a glare etched on his face, “i never got to avenge my parents, the murderer had a heart attack before I could even get to him….”

Danny reached out to the kid and placed his hand on Robin’s shoulder, Robin looked up at him—as if remembering that Danny was there with him.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Danny says softly, Robin looks away from him. “But I can tell you wholeheartedly, your parents are proud of you and what you are doing,” robin began rubbing at his mask, preventing him from wiping the tears away from his eyes underneath. “Here,” Danny says as he goes to pick up the 12 year old, “let's get you back to the Big Black Bat, I bet he is looking for you.”

Danny sits Robin on his hip and walks out of the room, rubbing circles into the child’s back. They walk together in silence, Robin resting his head in the crook of Danny's neck. “…Thank you,” Robin mumbles.

“Don't mention it kid,” Danny says as he looks around the corridor trying to spot anyone who could help him get this kid to the upper levels, “I know what it's like to lose your parents….”

“Really?” Robin asked, his head lifting off of Danny’s shoulder.

“Yeah,” Danny says, “they didn't die, but they basically said they never wanted to see me again.”

Robin gasped, “that's not nice!” Robin declared making Danny laugh again.

“Your right,” Danny agrees as he turns down another hall towards where the zeta tubes were, maybe someone in there could help. “But, now I'm here, having the time of my life with the job of my dreams.”

Robin smiled again, “you could say you're living the HIGH life.”

Danny paused in the hall and started snickering, “that was a good one, Birdy.”

“Birdy?” Robin asked.

“Yeah, your name is Robin, that's a bird, so Birdy,” Danny explained, “its a nickname

“Does that make us friends?” Robin asked.

“Sure, as long as your guardian is ok with it.”

The boy smiled happily, excited at the idea of having made a new friend. The calm was interrupted but Danny’s supervisor yelled from across the room, “Nightingale!” He shouts, causing Danny to jump.

Danny turns to look at the man, “hey boss—” he starts, blocking Robin from the man, not wanting to scare the kid.

“You are late to clock back in! You're not getting paid to sit around with your head in the clouds!” The man shouts.

“Sorry sir, I was—”

“No! You need to get back to work, NOW!” He demanded, “this is a multibillion dollar space station, everything needs to be on a strict schedule!”

Danny sighed, his supervisor hasn't liked Danny from day one. Something about him being “young and nïeve” or something like that; “head higher up into space than we were right now.” At least that's what Danny heard him say about him once or twice.

Danny was about to talk back when something just past his manager caught his eye. It was Batman, walking fast with a look that told everyone to get out of the way. But Danny could feel the worry bleed off the man in waves. Must be looking for Robin, Danny’s mind supplied. Danny sidesteps his supervisor and shouts, “Hey Batman!” To catch the dark knight’s attention. Danny had to restrain his laughter when he saw the look of horror pass on his supervisor's face.

Now with the vigilanties cold glare focused on him, Danny smiled and adjusted his stance to show Robbin to him. “Looking for you kid?” Danny asked.

Robin smiled nervously and waved at Batman, guess he wasn’t supposed to wander off like he did. “Hey B!” He shouts.

Batman’s glare softens so slightly, a regular person would have missed it. However, Danny could feel the man’s previous anxieties melt away into a strong relief. Batman strutted forward and glared down at Danny—despite Danny being taller than him. Danny just smiled and adjusted Robin on him so he could hand him over to the dark knight.

Now in Batman’s arms, Robin tapped his pointer fingers together nervously. “Sorry for wandering off,” he mumbled before his smile came back full force, “but,” he exclaimed, “I made a friend! His name is Danny and he liked my puns! And we both have bird names!” He exclaimed all while pointing at Danny.

Batman looked from the kid in his arms to Danny, “hmm,” he grumbled. A man of few words, Batman nods at Danny.

Danny nodded back, “He’s a good kid, glad I was able to help.” Danny replied. Feeling gratitude from that small gesture alone. Batman isn't the most expressive but being able to read emotions like Danny really helps when talking to people.

Batman turns his head to look over at Danny’s superior, “hmm.” After that Batman turned and walked away.

Robin climbed to sit up on Batman’s shoulder and waved back at Danny, “Bye bird buddy! Have a good day!” He shouts as Batman enters the elevator. The doors closing behind them and leaving the zeta tube control center in near silence.

Danny looked back to his supervisor who looked as pale as a sheet ghost, Danny gave him a shit eating grin and shrugged at him. “I tried to tell ya—”

“Get back to work Nightingale!” He shouts.

“Ok, ok, I'm going.” Danny says, turning on his heels and walking away from the man with his hands held up in surrender.

—

I have so many ideas for this au and if I write more I might post it on my AO3 feel free to read other things I posted on there!

[frownyalfred]

Batman for real has to be the worst coworker — the one you dread having to ask questions. you walk up to that motherfucker like “can I take point on the next mission?” and he just hits you with the “I don’t know…can you?”

[thisiswhereikeepdcthings]

At the Watchtower pt 11

Diana: Where’s Bruce?

Clark: Paris.

Diana: Oh, that was tonight?

Clark, sitting down at a computer station: Yeah, the guy never stops doing a hero’s work, does he.

Diana: What are you doing?

Clark: Waiting for the tabloids.

Computer: *chimes*

Clark, reading the headline: “Bad Blood Between Billionaires.” Oh, this oughta be good.

Diana:

Clark: Oh look, there’s even a picture of Lex’s face after Bruce very much accidentally spilled a full glass of red wine on his tux.

Diana: Uh-huh. And how far in advance was that planned?

Clark: Three weeks. He’s truly an inspiration to us all.

Diana:

Diana: I can’t believe he didn’t invite me.

(prev) (next)

[vipower001]

DP x DC angst:

I thrive off of angst, so I decided, Why not write my own? so here I am, gifting yall with my angst. Enjoy

Also, this is inspired by, I think the Fic called The Kings Coffin, I don't know I could be wrong. But, it's inspired by the time in this fic when Danny mind controlled almost all of the Justice League (because most of them have died or been touched with death at one point or another) and then he was kicked out of the League because they didn't trust him.

_____________________________________________________________

"Hey, guys what's with this emergency meeting all of a sudden?" Danny said with a grin as he entered the meeting room of the Watchtower.

The rest of the justice league was already there, seemingly waiting for him. He noted that there were no more chairs left so he had no choice but to stand. Danny felt like he was walking into the principal's office once he noticed the room's tense atmosphere. With less confidence than when he entered Danny, he asked,

"Sooooo, what's this meeting all about and why does it feel like someone's puppy just got kicked," he says with a chuckle, trying to alleviate the tense atmosphere but seeing that it did not have his desired effect. Even Captain Marvel who is usually ready to join him in joking has a tense almost guilty look on his face. He looks away when Danny turns to look at him.

Officially confused Danny looks at the Leauge hoping one of them will explain soon. Batman is the first to speak.

"Phantom, we call this meeting to discuss some changes that will be happening in the League."

"What changes are being made?" asked Danny. He's curious as to what it could be. Did something happen? Was it about the coffee maker again? He swears that the coffee maker is cursed. Before he can think of any more guesses Batman starts talking again.

"We have come to a conclusion regarding the events that happened a few days prior when almost the entire justice League was mind controlled..."

Danny waited in silence, waiting for Batman to tell them what changes are being made. He hoped there was no long-lasting effect that could have brought about the change. He freed them from the control of that guy as fast as he could. He doesn't want his coworkers to be harmed.

"We have decided that the Justice League can not trust unknown powers, especially ones that can control almost the entirety of the league, it's too much of a risk and that is not one we are willing to take."

wait...what is he saying? It makes no sense. They already caught the guy and Danny already told them that it wasn't the guy's fault, He just so happened to find the Ghost King's artifacts. He already told them that...that...they...belong...to him....no....no.no.no....they wouldn't.

Hesitantly Danny asked, "What are you saying? What do you mean can't risk it? What has been decided?"

Some of the members of the league looked at each other. Some looked at him with regret, guilt, anger,...untrust. Danny tried to read the room to figure out what Batman meant but he didn't have to guess long.

"Phantom, by the majority of the votes of the League, you are officially resigned as a member of the Justice League."

Danny froze. He didn't understand. Why are they kicking him out? He did nothing wrong. What did he do wrong? Why are they doing this?

"What...w-why?" Danny felt like he was just splashed with a bucket of cold water, he felt a chill in his body, one he hasn't felt since he died.

"You withheld information regarding your powers and when shown an opportunity you did not hesitate to use it on on your team. You have proven yourself to be untrustworthy and unpredictable. "

"What do you mean I didn't hesitate?!? Of course, I didn't, it was the only way to save yall! Was I just meant to just let yall be and destroy the city and kill people? Look I'm sorry I didn't give yall a full rundown of my powers but it just never came to mind that it was important. I can write a list of my powers if you would like?" Danny argued, trying to un-dig himself from the apparent hole he has found himself in.

"It's not only that Phantom but you also failed to mention how two ancient artifacts as powerful as those were laying around for anyone to grab and use for evil. What If a rouge had gotten their hands on it instead? A lot more people could have been killed and the blood would be on your hands because you withheld that information."

Danny felt his core give a painful throb at those words. He never meant to hurt anyone and he is already in pain for the casualties lost before. He didn't mean to, he didn't know the Crown and Ring was on earth. He thought they were still in the ghost zone. I mean, technically Batman's not wrong. He should have known they were here. But he just forgot ok, He didn't mean for any of this to happen.

"I didn't even know the Crown and ring were in the human world. I mean, I guess I could have felt it if I thought about it but it didn't cross my mind at all. But I never meant for anyone to get hurt. "

"Whether you meant to or not doesn't change what your carelessness and failure to mention caused," wait "You are too much of a risk to the team and you're too unpredictable," please "You are to give us your com and leave, you are to write a power list and send it to the watchtower for evaluation," stop "I am sorry Phantom but we can't risk a powerful unknown to be able to ensure the safety of the world and the Leauge." not again.

All Danny can hear is static. He feels his core chip and break with every word. To be told that he can not protect them, or keep them safe. It's what he does. It's what he is. He has to protect. Protect. Protect. Protect. He is nothing without it. He'll die without it.

He is vaguely aware of the drop in temperature, out of the corner of his eye he can see frost climbing up the walls and table and chairs. He can see it spreading from him to the other heroes. He's not meaning to. He didn't mean to. He's sorry. He'll be good. He'll stop. He won't move. He'll be still, quiet. He'll be good.

"-antom! Phantom! Stop! I said STOP!!!"

Danny snaps back to the present with the yelling. Why are they yelling again? Oh yeah, the frost. He reels it back in and the temperature in the room rises, though it's not as warm as it used to be.

Danny looks up and he sees that some of the Members of the League are out of their seats, some look to be ready to surround him, and some look ready to attack. Why are you looking at me like that? Danny looks around the room with wide eyes realizing that he isn't trusted, he doesn't think he was trusted in the first place. Why doesn't anyone ever trust him?

"Your com Phantom. Then you leave."

Danny doesn't know if he will be allowed to leave. Not wanting to be closer he phases the com out from his leg where he keeps it for safekeeping and places it on the floor in front of him. He doesn't take his eyes off the league, fear taking hold of him. After he places it he rises to leave and backs out the door still facing them so he can keep them in front of him. He doesn't stop looking at the meeting room till he is down the hall where he turns invisible and intangible and flies away as fast as he could.

He flies and flies until the burning ache in his core is too much and he has to stop. He lets himself float there in space, curled up in a protective ball hoping and trying to keep the dark thoughts away, but knowing he can't protect himself from the internal battle.

Why? What did I do? How did this happen? Not again. Please stop. Why? I didn't mean to. I just wanted to help. all I've ever done was try to help.

Thoughts of the past start shoving their way into his brain, into his core. Memories of hands reaching into him. Pulling him apart. memories of faces that used to be kind and looked at him with love turned to hate and disgust. And with every jab and every word, Danny's core breaks a little more.

Sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to. I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! STOP! please stop. It's me. It's your son. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I'll stop. I'll behave. I'm still your son. why? WHY?!? what did I do!? I just wanted to protect you. so why? why are you doing this? Please don't. I'm sorry. PLEASE!? I'LL BE GOOD! I'LL STOP! I'LL BEHAVE! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. please don't. I can't do this anymore. just stop. please just kill me. please. stop it. please. just kill me.

Danny floats there, curled into himself. Trying to protect himself from the memories, the thoughts,...the voices. But they're all too much. If he can't even protect his friend's family, then how is he meant to protect himself. How can he live if he can't protect anyone? He just hurts them, and then they hurt him, over and over again.

He can't do it. He isn't strong enough. He can't. He's failed. he failed his family. He couldn't protect Jazz, Sam, or Tucker. He couldn't protect Dani or the Ghosts that were captured by the GIW. He couldn't protect his parents, and himself from his parents. He couldn't protect the people he killed when he escaped the GIW. He couldn't protect his friends, the league, his family. He tried but he only ended up hurting them. Images of their faces as they looked at him as if he was a threat. They aren't supposed to look at me like that. he is supposed to protect them and he failed.

I tried. I'm sorry. I'm sorry it wasn't enough. That I wasn't enough. Im sorry. I hurt them. I hurt my family. I should have let my parents or the GIW kill me. permanently. Because then, I wouldn't have hurt anyone else. I would have kept them safe. Safe. safe from me. I hurt them. Im sorry. Im so sorry. I'll stop. I'll fix it. I'll fix what I did. I'm sorry. Just stop looking at me like that.

And with those final thoughts, Danny felt his core shatter, just as a swirling green portal was opened and he was sucked inside, and once it closed it was like Danny Phantom never existed.

.

.

.

Somewhere, a man felt a sense of wrongness as he waited for the boy who has wormed his way into his heart and become a son to him. Not that he ever told the kid that yet (but he might have been too late).

______________________________________________________________

Well...how was it? Did yall enjoy it? I might make a part two if I can remember but who knows.

I wonder who that man at the end was???? Who knows. Also If there are any spelling errors pls tell me.

[textsfromsuperheroes]

Texts From Superheroes

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[dc-vs-marvel-tournament]

Submitted by @theneonghosts

[cigamfossertsim]

someone make a workplace sitcom that takes place in the watchtower. in jlu we see that normal people get 9-5 jobs working there and that the justice league also technically “works” there for monitor duty and whatnot but they also use it as a giant dorm for superheroes. like imagine talking to superman at work. batman is your boss. you have monitor duty with atom smasher and booster gold. you eat lunch with black canary. the gossip. the benefits. the shenanigans. the very real possibility that at any second you could be attacked by supervillains or invading aliens. but its just customer service on steroids to you. i need this. itll be comedy gold

[ihavethreetimdrakeblogs]

hc that cap struggles with child safety lids. it gets to the point that if u see a jar with a broken lid in the watchtower's communal kitchen u know exactly who to blame.

[venator-signum]

just had a Thought

what if every time there's a new Robin or batkid and they're officially introduced to the league on the Watchtower, Diana comes in and shows them around because Bruce and Clark always have a little chat

so she shows them around the space base and she shows them all the pretty things you can see and she stands with them as they see the earth, their home, for the first time from space and she tells them "this is the planet we work to save because despite it all, there is still good and we need to protect it"

and every time it's a little different, altered to each kid from what she's heard from Bruce and she answers the questions they're brave enough to ask her that Bruce won't answer cause he's hurt and doesn't want to show it

just,,, Diana seeing a child with a legacy to live up to and big shoes to fill and giving them a word of advice cause she knows what that's like as the heir to the amazons

[trevor-hendersons-creatures]

[howtheworldcouldb]

Billy Batson gives the best advice in the League no I do not take criticism

[minnesota-fats]

Finally posted on my AO3 (will write more later, no actual update)

—

@cannibalisticphantom @stealingyourbones @akikkobara @spookytragedyshark @jaguarthecat @vythika96 @fae-of-the-wild @spikedlynx @cicibunbuns @redhoneysugarorange @nottmuchtopost @rosecinnamonbun @riversong456 @seraphinedemort @blackstar-gazer @nutcase8691 @naluforever3 @may-rbi @pickleking8 @geek-tabulous @kunakitsune @readingalldaysleepingallnight @whitewintertiger @latheevening226 @why-must-i-be-like-this @itsparadoxlacuna @feral-bunny31 @halfalix @thetruecthulhu9

Sorry if i missed some of y’all but I think I got most of you

[kawaiikenna]

So I’ve been watching Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. And I know that it’s all about the super heroes and people with powers. But, has anyone thought about how many people it would take to just run the Watchtower? Would the staff live there full time or would they be on a rotating schedule? Because the gravity, or lack thereof, would really fuck up their bones and bodies in general.

Like, is there a fic about the normal staff that work in the Watchtower? I’m talking about kitchen staff, janitors, the people who order supplies. The people that do jobs that we forget about but are just as important as the heroes.

Is that a thing? Because if it is I want it. I politely demand the link to said fic. ÒwÓ

[thisiswhereikeepdcthings]

At the Watchtower part 12

Oliver: I’m just saying, I think it’d be fine.

Clark: And I’M just saying no way.

Oliver: At least just think about it?

Clark, waiting five seconds: No.

Oliver: Oh come on, that wasn’t enough time to think about it.

Clark: I have super speed.

(prev)

[lisamarie-vee]

[brontios-helm]

Destiny 2: To Know That She Lives